My ancestor, Edmond Riordan was born approximately 1809/10 in Bruff, per his Chicago, IL, USA obituary. He died 22MAR1882, at the home of his daughter - Ellen Riordan Sherry. The family bible says Edmond was married to Ellen Condon @1842. I would love to be able to confirm any of this information in the hope of building upon it!
Thanks, Janet Kinsella
Denver, Colorado, USA
Hi there,
Thank you very much for your query. You say that Edmond was married to Ellen in 1842. This lies just outside the available records. If he was from the Church of Ireland then this might be different, there might be earlier records. The General Register Office (GRO) has marriage records from 1845. If they were married in the north of Ireland then check PRONI. If he was Roman Catholic, it might be worth contacting the local parish priest in Bruff for more information. Do you know where he was married (Ireland or USA)?
Keep a regular check on the IRO website. Someone in the Bruff community might know of more information for you or be able to point you in the right direction.
Kind regards,
Sinead Cooney
Dear Sinead,
I really appreciate your suggestions. Edmond was in fact, Roman Catholic. He and Ellen were married in Ireland and had 3 children of whom I am aware - John, born 1843, Jeremiah, born 1849 and my ancestor Ellen; who was baptized 16FEB1848, Hospital & Herbertstown(?) Parish Bruree. All three ended up in Chicago, Illinois. Edmond's death certificate said he was a carraige maker by trade, in Chicago for about 7 years before his death. The children seem to have emigrated between 1860 and 1870.
I suppose I should also post in Bruree Parish, as I don't know whether Ellen was born there as well as baptized.
Regards,
Janet
Hi Janet,
Yes please post your message on the parish profile for Bruree here: http://www.irelandxo.com/group/bruree-limerick
It might be interesting for you to check occupation records in Chicago for any records about carriage-makers for that time. Perhaps he trained in Ireland before he left? You could look at a book by Jim Cooke called Ireland's premier coachbuilder, John Hutton & Sons, Summerhill, Dublin 1779-1925, Dublin: 1993.
Kind regards,
Sinead Cooney
Genealogist (Ireland XO)